1 Corinthians - Bible study of verses
1 Corinthians 1:2
We come to the letter to Corinthians.
In writing to the Corinthians, Paul reminded them that they were set apart, 'called Saints' (1:2); he commended those who were "enriched in all speech and knowledge" (1:5); the apostle commended them for their variety of gifts 1:7. But Paul also expressed serious concern for them. He pleaded with them to come to an agreement with each other (1:10); he was distressed by the divisions that had occurred among them (1:11). The apostle drew a detailed picture of the natural man's inability to understand spiritual concepts (1:18-26). He presented Christ as the supreme object of Christian loyalty and devotion (1:30-31). Paul made a detailed analysis of their spiritual state. And this was a sordid portrait. The list of accusations Paul leveled against the Corinthians ranged from carnal divisions to denial of Christ's resurrection. A lesser soul than Paul would have abandoned the church in despair or condemned it with indignation. Paul did none of these things - he preached Christ to them.
Let us go into studying this book.
1 Corinthians 1:10
Paul pleads with the Corinthians in strong, persuasive words: SAY ALL THE SAME THING. This is a classic expression used in relation to political communities that are free from tensions, or in relation to different nations that establish cordial diplomatic and commercial relationships.
The word for dissensions (schismata) means 'cleft', 'fissure', or 'division'. In the expression BE UNITED, Paul uses a medical term that is used in connection with the binding of bones that have been fractured, or the binding of a joint that has been dislocated. Paul wants them to come to right understanding and unity of opinion, or judgment.
Verse 1:11 - Paul had received a report from Chloe's family: It has been reported to me by Chloe's family that there are disputes among you. Cloe is not known except for the reference at this point. But it is observed that she was a woman of character and good position. Furthermore, the reference suggests that the church had elevated women to a position of dignity and respect.
The word Paul uses for strife means bitter arguments. The divisions at Corinth were not slight differences of opinion. They were deep-seated disputes that threatened the very existence of the church.
1 Corinthians 1:18
At first glance it seems that Paul is advocating rigid anti-intellectualism. But he was not putting a premium on ignorance. He had no intention "to base religious knowledge on nonsense, nor to reduce theological learning to a minimum". In fact, Paul was trying to show that true wisdom, the wisdom of God, is revealed in and through the Cross of Christ. Because "to know nothing but Christ, and Him crucified, is to know all that is meaningful."
To those who are still in the process of perishing today, the word of the Cross is madness. The word madness (moria) refers to that which is irrational, stupid, or worthless. On the other hand, for those who believe in it and accept it, the word of the Cross becomes the power (dynamis) of God. Because it is power, "the word of the Cross is, after all, the truest wisdom." Paul quotes a few verses to illustrate his claim that the wisdom of God is indeed a power operating in human affairs:
1- Isaiah 29:14 the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hid.
2- Isaiah 33:18 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the inquirer of this century?
3- 1 Cor 1:20 Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
He makes all the wisdom boasted of man look like folly:
1- Displaying its intrinsic insignificance and its corrupt results.
2. By the power of the Cross set in opposition to it, and triumphing over it.
1 Corinthians 1:27
To reinforce his claim that human wisdom stands in opposition to divine power, Paul asks the people to do a group analysis. As they did, they would find that most of them came from the lowest class of society, because not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. This is not to say that God does not call all men to repentance and redemption. Everyone is called, and occasionally, a person of high standing will respond.
So not many sages, or lovers of human wisdom and understanding, were believers; nor did the mighty, the chief and notable persons, accept Christ; nor did the nobles, or those of the upper classes or those born noble, submit to Christ, except in rare cases.
Paul emphasizes the lowest social position of most converts three times in verses 27 and 28 - THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THIS WORLD… THE WEAK THINGS OF THIS WORLD… THE LOW THINGS OF THIS WORLD. The FOOLISH THINGS refer to the uneducated men who baffled the greatest philosophers of Greece; LOW THINGS refer to those who had no secular power or authority; and THE DESPISED THINGS those who were considered vile and contemptible in the eyes of the Jews, who did not consider them better than dogs.
Therefore, the very nature of the converts indicated that NO FLESH could boast before him. Christians are to glory in Christ because in him they have experienced true wisdom, wealth, and power.
1 Corinthians 2:1
Do you sometimes hesitate to share the Gospel with others because you are not sure what to say? Even Paul, a great evangelist and teacher, did not count on a flowery speech or his ability to persuade people; he depended on the Holy Spirit to speak through him (see 1 Corinthians 2:1-5). Ask the Holy Spirit to speak through you too, and believe that He will. Just speak, tell your testimony, what Christ did in your life and what He can do in the life of the person who opens his heart to the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:9
This passage is a message of hope and promise for Christians around the world. It asserts that God has blessings and rewards in store for those who love and obey Him. These blessings are so wonderful that they cannot be understood or imagined by human beings. They are reserved only for those who love God and trust His promises.
One of the greatest blessings God has in store for those who love him is his presence. The Bible teaches that God is always with us and will never leave or forsake us. Matthew 28:20: "Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." This is a blessing that surpasses human comprehension, but it is a reality for those who love God and trust in His word.
Furthermore, it is important to remember that the "things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have conveived the heart of man" do not just refer to material or earthly rewards. God can bless us in many ways, whether it be through meaningful relationships, emotional and spiritual health, or personal growth and maturity.
Finally, it is worth remembering that the promise of 1 Corinthians 2:9 extends not just to this life, but to eternity. When we accept Jesus as our Savior and follow His ways, we are guaranteed eternal life with God, where we can fully experience the wonders He has prepared for us.
1 Corinthians 2:14
In contrast to the spiritual man is the natural man. The natural man is he who "possesses … simply the purely human organ of perception, but who does not yet possess the organ of religious perception in … the spirit." The natural man has only the ordinary powers of man apart from God; as such, he does not understand the things of the Spirit of God... and cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Since man's natural abilities are totally corrupted through sin, consequently every activity of his soul and mind will be darkened. Spiritual things are foolishness to the natural man, because such a man lives as if the whole of life were in physical things; he lives only for this world. His values are based on the material and the physical, and he judges all things in light of these terms. Such a man simply cannot understand spiritual things. One who thinks only in terms of sexual gratification cannot understand the meaning of chastity; a person dedicated to accumulating material goods cannot understand the meaning of generosity; a man motivated by a lust for power cannot know the meaning of sacrificial service; an individual whose life is guided by worldly attitudes cannot appreciate the inner spiritual impulses. Because the natural man does not open his life to the Holy Spirit, he regards all spiritual life and values as folly.
Our mind says what we think, not necessarily what God thinks.
Our will says what we want, not what God wants.
Our emotions say what we feel, not what God feels.
At the same time that the soul is purified, it is also TRAINED to conduct the THOUGHTS, WISHES and FEELINGS of God and thus TRANSFORM US into the Lord's SPEAKER.
The word of God teaches in 1 Cor. 2:16, which we have been given, the mind of Christ and the thoughts, feelings and purposes of his heart.
We have the mind of Christ, but the uncrucified soul "prevents" them from appearing.
The man wants to think his own thoughts, but God wants to use the man's mind to think His thoughts.
The Christian will have the mind of Christ, if he/she lets the Spirit reveal God's thoughts through the scriptures.
1 Corinthians 3:1
Paul could not speak to these people as Spirit-filled believers. Therefore, a distinction is made within the positions of the church. All believers receive the Holy Spirit when they believe and have faith (Eph. 1:13). Spiritual life is only possible in and through the Holy Spirit. But not all Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit and led by the Spirit. Some Christians are carnal. But while he labels the Corinthians as being carnal, Paul is quick to remind them that they are to be God's temples.
These Christians were BOYS; they "were still weak in grace, though eminent in gifts." Because you are children Paul says: WITH MILK I RAISED YOU AND NOT WITH SOLID FOOD. Milk and delicacy are nourishing foods. But normally milk is for the child with a delicacy and undeveloped body, while delicacy is for the strong and mature person who needs strength to do the hard work. Paulo was not willing to stay on as a nanny. He was a prophet. The Corinthians had not grown up. Instead of growing up in grace and humility, they were proud of their gifts and abilities; instead of expressing a strong spirit of unity. THEY WERE STILL CARNAL.
Beloved brothers, it is understandable that at the beginning of the Christian life some are carnal. But the Christian life is not static. Either the Christian develops to maturity through the ELIMINATION OF CARNAL TENDENCIES, or he parks himself in a state of deliberate boyhood.
1 Corinthians 3:3
Envy and division cause us to strive to obtain things that God will give us in His time, if it is His will that we come to possess them. A jealous and factious heart never sanctifies God. We should not envy what other people have.
The best way to overcome envy is to admit it. When you feel envy or jealousy, be honest with God and ask Him to help you live free of those feelings. Anything we hide has power over us, so bringing hidden things to light not only exposes them, but weakens their power over us.
Construct Life / Build a house on the Rock / Build upon Christ!
And they drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the SPIRITUAL ROCK that accompanied them, AND THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST. 2 Corinthians 10:4
WHO IS THE SPIRITUAL ROCK?
For who is God but the Lord? And who is Rock but our God? 2 Samuel 22:32
Our life is to be built on the solid foundation of Jesus!
He wants you to walk close to Him!
He wants you to grow in faith and knowledge on his part.
Put ALL your hopes and dreams in His hands and TRUST Him to meet all your needs.
Whatever the circumstances, the things of God are non-negotiable! DO NOT STOP PRAYING! DO NOT LOSE THE MOMENT AND MOVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOUR LIFE AND FAMILY!
IT IS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD! TO GROW! TO LIVE, AND LIVE INTENSELY!
For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw. Each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:11-16).
- The purpose of building on the foundation is to live to the honor and glory of God, not to receive the wages of gold, silver, and precious stones.
- The opposite is also true, when the believer does NOT build on the foundation of Jesus Christ then one may be saved as through fire, if one is not already left at the Rapture of the Church.
- Where this building with wood, hay or straw refers to, I still owe you the answer to, possibly just a Christian life of going to church and continuing to believe in Jesus Christ until the Rapture?
- Building with gold, silver and precious stones as a wage is a result of living under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and doing the Will of God. A building through evangelism or support, a daily prayer life and Bible reading, a relationship with God the Father.
- A life of testimony, the fruits of yesterday Day 8, are visible because the believer realizes that he or she is a temple of God in which the Holy Spirit resides. If one leaves the fruits and lives in the world, then unbelievers and believers cannot see that you are a temple of God. That is a dignified life, no piracy, faithfully paying your taxes, obeying to the traffic rules, dressing with dignity (especially when you go to church) you go to the House of God (the church).
1 Corinthians 4:4
Paul declared that it mattered little what the Corinthians thought of him. He was always compassionate, thoughtful and kind. But the apostle was almost wholly indifferent to men's reactions to him when it came to the matter of preaching the gospel. Such judgments had no bearing on his belief or conduct. The reason was simple: as a steward he was directly responsible to Christ.
Paul was also not dependent on his own judgment. He did not omit self-criticism and was painfully aware of his shortcomings. However, he said: NEITHER DO I JUDGE MYSELF. Self-judgment is dangerous because a person too easily sanctions his own opinions, approves of his own conduct, or argues in favor of his own mistakes. The sentence: BECAUSE IN NOTHING I FEEL GUILTY syndicate that Paulo knew very well a non-accusing conscience does not necessarily indicate the exemption of some guilt.
Furthermore, if Jesus is the final judge, the Corinthians must not judge anything before the time, until the Lord comes, who also will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the thoughts of the heart. In the final judgment, EVERY ONE WILL RECEIVE PRAISE FROM GOD. Thus people must be careful neither to reap premature praise of favorite preachers nor to pour out scorn on persons not to their particular liking. God is the only one who is qualified to judge.
1 Corinthians 4:12b-13a
In this world, there are wonderful people that God has specially called to be His servants. They are men and women who announce the word of God, advise and care for their fellow men.
The apostles were practically the first to exercise this role after the coming of Christ. The apostles faced a lot of suffering, physical punishment, imprisonment, risk of death, in addition to public humiliation and contempt. However, when the apostle Paul wrote the text of 1 Corinthians 4, he was not referring to sufferings caused to him by non-Christians, but he was writing to the Corinthian church.
Nobody likes to suffer! The apostle did not like it either. However, he was aware that suffering was part of his mission. He wanted everyone to come to faith in the Lord Jesus, and so he acted with love even when he was humiliated or hurt.
Even today there are many servants of God who are ridiculed but respond with soft words. There are many who are cursed by those who do not want to receive correction from the Lord.
True servants of God deserve our respect and honor. They are people who leave everything behind because they are sure that Christ can save those who are unhappy and lost. May we know how to respect and honor them! And, with the same certainty of salvation in Christ, may we also have the necessary courage to witness our faith, even in the most difficult times!
1 Corinthians 4:15
Paul had a father's heart for the believers in the Corinthian church.
Having a father's heart is having that kind of tender, caring, dedicated attitude that trains, teaches, and does not give up on people just because they do not learn quickly.
A father takes pleasure in teaching his children to walk or play ball. He does not get mad that they do not master the steps the first time, but he keeps working with them until they learn how to do it. A good father does not give up on his children, but commits to them for life.
Paul said the church is full of tutors and teachers, full of people who can preach a sermon and tell others what to do. But he also said there are not enough fathers in the church.
If you want to be a leader in the body of Christ, especially if you want to be a pastor, you need to have the heart of a father.
Maybe you feel unqualified to be someone's 'parent' in the spiritual life. Maybe you did not have a father who was a good role model for you. Maybe he does not know how to act like a parent. The truth is, we all had imperfect parents here on earth. You need to understand that God is a good heavenly father. He can care for you like your loving Father and show you how to treat others in the same way.
Paul promises to visit the Corinthian church and when he does he will test the claims of these convinced leaders, not their words, but their power, their virtue. He had gone with a demonstration of the Spirit's power (1 Corinthians 2:4). Signs, wonders and changed lives confirm his ministry. He would find out whether their ministry was just pompous and empty words, or backed up with power. This is important, for the Kingdom of God is more than mere words - it is power.
Paul was not speaking either about the future dispensation of the Kingdom or about the Church. The 'Kingdom of God' he was referring to was God's rule and authority, the way in which God shows in the present that He is actively reigning on the throne. Paul had a similar thought in Romans 14:17, where he declares that the Kingdom of God - which shows that God is reigning in our lives - is not a matter of rules we follow about eating and drinking, but of "righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit". When we manifest these things we show that God truly is our King.
The Spirit also shows His power when He convicts the world "of sin and righteousness and judgment" (John 16:8). He continues the work that Jesus God gave to Paul to "to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me (Jesus)" Acts 26:18.
1 Corinthians 4:20
- Recognize that Kingdom ministry involves signs, wonders, and miracles that demonstrate the power of God.
- Never give up! Stay steadfast in faith. Abundant in service to God. Know that nothing that is done in Jesus' name is in vain.
- Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain 1 Corinthians 15:58.
1 Corinthians 5:6
The spiritual law declared by Paul here has both a negative and a positive aspect. The negative element is found in the expression: IT IS NOT GOOD TO BE PROUD. The word does not denote a display of vainglory. Rather, it points to the attitude of pride and vanity. The abundance of knowledge and gifts should have produced a higher type of spiritual life in the church. But it had the opposite effect. People were smug about self-assumed spiritual superiority, yet blind to an overtly shameful act.
The positive aspect of the spiritual law stated here is sensible indeed: Do you not know that a little leaven makes the whole lump leaven? Being indifferent to the presence of sin does three things for a congregation. It shares part of the responsibility and blame; lowers standards of Biblical faith and conduct; and encourages a gradual spread of other sins in the congregation.
The problem with the Corinthian church was that it was either unaware of or indifferent to the seriousness of spiritual decline. The leaven not only was the presence of an unpunished offender in their fellowship, "but the general complacency and impurity shown by their complete tolerance of the matter." If such a poisonous sin were allowed to remain, "it would bring with it an indefinite corrupting power; it would defile the whole community." Since one bad member can contaminate the whole church, there was a danger of future contagion. A spiritually proud church can gradually become infected with sin until the whole church is guilty of overindulgence in, or actual participation in, sin.
1 Corinthians 5:12-13
Paul was not commissioned to JUDGE THOSE WHO ARE OUTSIDERS. An OUTSIDER the Jews called Gentiles. Paul borrows the term and uses it to include both Gentiles and Jews - all those who have not accepted Christ. Regarding sinners, Paul had only one obligation - to preach the gospel. He was aware that his influence on apostolic discipline extended only to those who professed a common faith in Christ. The duty of both Paul and the Corinthians was to exercise discipline toward those within the church.
God deals with sinners, those who are not yet born again: but God judges those who are without. Of course, the unfaithful Christian is also judged by God. But the Christian has an obligation to exercise valid discrimination regarding conduct within the fellowship of believers. So Paul's verdict still stands: PUT THEREFORE OUT OF YOURSELVES THAT WICKED ONE. The church must express concern about the actions of its members.
A DISCIPLINED CHURCH
1. Does not approve of immoral conduct
2. It is a purified church
3. Reflects sincerity and truth
4. Recognizes that there must be a differentiated treatment for sinners who are in the church, and for those who are outside of it.
1 Corinthians 6:1
Paul deals with another situation that was not helping them in their Christian witness. The Corinthian believers, like most of us today, did not always agree with each other. Thus, they were taking their disagreements to the civil court, before pagan judges instead of taking them before 'the Saints' (that is, believers who are sanctified by the Spirit). These judges would arbitrate according to pagan laws and ideas, rather than according to Christian principles. Paul does not mean that we cannot use civil or criminal courts for serious situations involving unbelievers. He did not even mean that pagan judges never gave a just verdict or decision. But affairs between believers would be observed by the pagan world, which would then question Christian love for the Corinthian believers. This prospect horrified Paul.
Paul wanted the Corinthian church to seek out its wise members to arbitrate the differences between them. One day, Christian believers will take part in governing the world (see Mt 19:28; 2 Tim 2:12; Rev 22:5). In comparison to this great responsibility, the issues that the believers were bringing before the pagan judges were trivial. Surely, believers should already be competent to judge such cases.
Verse 7 - Indeed, it is truly a fault among you that you have demands against one another. Why do not you suffer injustice first? Why do not you suffer the damage first? But you yourselves do injustice and do harm to your brothers.
CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE LAWSUITS AGAINST EACH OTHER ARE ALREADY LOSERS. Both sides are already completely defeated before God and in the eyes of the community. Unfortunately, there are legal matters that can only be dealt with by an earthly court.
1 Corinthians 6:12
Because they were free from the law, they assumed they could do whatever they wanted. Like some today, they may have said, "IF YOU FEEL GOOD, DO IT." But Paul responded that "not all things are beneficial" (they are beneficial, useful, truly good, and advantageous to the body of Christ). Furthermore, many things, even legitimate things, can enslave us. Paul refused to be dominated by anything. He was subject to the authority of God and Jesus Christ. And he would not let things or human desire dominate him, not even things that in themselves were not sin.
Self-discipline is actually the greatest freedom of all. In self-discipline the Spirit directs, and Christian lives are free from tyranny - whether from sinful acts or from domination over things that in themselves are not wrong. Freedom becomes a snare when it weakens character, saps spiritual vitality, or reduces the effectiveness of Christian witness.
1 Corinthians 6:18-19
To understand what Paul is saying or why he is making this statement we need to go back a little. In verse 13 of the same chapter Paul's opponents said that "delicacies are for the belly and the belly for delicacies", implying that it was okay to satisfy physical desires in whatever way pleased them. According to Paul's response, God will destroy "both the one and the other": the belly that a person is tempted to satisfy and the delicacies that satisfy the desire.
But what they had in mind was more than food as shown by Paul's next statement. In effect, they were declaring that the body was made for sex and sex for the body, in this way sexual desires could be satisfied by any type of immorality without feeling greater guilt than putting food in the stomach.
It was easy for the Corinthians to assume this attitude, because with their Greek background, they had a negative view of the body, considering it of little importance. Many philosophers considered the body to be the prison of the soul, which is why they thought that things that were done in the body did not affect the soul. But God created the human body. He created Adam and Eve for each other and for himself. The body was made for the Lord to be a means by which we can express ourselves in worship and service to Him. Paul's desire was that Christ will, both now and ever, be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death (Phil 1:20).
The Lord is for the body not only because He created it, but because He knows that we need a body for the full expression of our nature as His children. He demonstrated this point by raising our Lord Jesus from the dead by His power. Jesus identified with humanity from birth to death in order to take our place and die for us on the cross. But God did not just raise Him spiritually, He raised Him with a real, tangible body. He had been transformed, it was a different order, but He could still walk, talk and eat with the disciples (Luke 24:37-43; Acts 1:3,4,6). Therefore, because the body is so important to God and to us, we should never let sinful desires lead us to immorality of any kind.
1 Corinthians 7:9
The verb to contain oneself (egkratevomai) means to possess within oneself the power to control oneself. If people lack this power, they should get married. It is permissible for people who lack the power of control in the matter of sex to get married, and thus solve the problem related to sexual impulses. It must be said again that Paul is answering a question about a specific situation in Corinth , and not presenting a universal principle for all Christians. Encouraging Christians to marry solely for the purposes of sex would be absurd, but it is one of the factors to consider. It is better to get married than to continually struggle with the fire of sexual desire or, even worse, suffer the guilt of giving in to such desire outside of the marriage relationship. In a very real sense, to smolder means "to be consumed by passions that would completely dominate if there were no continence." If you find yourself in this situation, pray, ask God for a husband/wife... be patient, I know waiting is painful, even more so when we see our friends getting married, becoming parents... and it is not our turn!!! But waiting patiently is the best and safest thing... I myself waited so long, but God did not forget me, it was years of waiting... but one day... when God did it... it was so quick... overnight I was getting married... and it has been 17 years. Believe! God is most interested in promoting your happiness in this area.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11
Divorce was a free and easy matter in Corinth, as in all cities under Roman rule. The Roman legal system gave both parties the right to take the initiative to dissolve the marriage. Jewish law also permitted a man to give his wife a bill of divorce for insignificant reasons.
When dealing with marriages between Christians, Paul can speak with authority: HOWEVER, I ORDINATE THE MARRIED, NOT I, BUT THE LORD. In essence, it conveys a commandment given by the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul seems to have in mind Jesus' words in Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Mark 10:11; and Luke 16:18. These commandments of Jesus, repeated by Paul, simply state that Christians should remain loyal to their marriage vows, and remain together as husband and wife.
As said in a meme on the internet by a man from the countryside who says that he is now a believer but that it is very difficult, without doing many things yourself, but you still run the risk for one reason or another of going to hell. It is funny the way he talks ... but it has a kernel of truth... when a marriage goes through certain crises, there is no understanding, disagreement is inevitable ... look ... not everyone has that love for Christ to resist, and give up their will … and trying to negotiate … it gets difficult … and there is a strong desire to say: "It does not work, it is better for everyone to go their own way" … and many people act like that … many times the pastor will give advice and people are worried so much anger, such a hard heart that there is no arguing. But you have to seek God... if you are sincere with the Lord, is it difficult for God not to act... do not argue with others! Seek God, cry out to the Lord, pour out your heart... There are countless testimonies where, humanly, that marriage was no longer viable. But through the cry of one of the spouses the Lord did… God re-united.
GOD'S DIVINITY AND ATTRIBUTES
- The Holy Bible presents one God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father is over all, the Son for all people and the Holy Spirit in all the saved ones.
- So there is a God the Father, a God the Son and a God the Holy Spirit.
- The Father God is a fullness of the invisible divinity; the Son God, a fullness of the divinity manifest and visible; the Holy Spirit is a divinity that generates life, the revelation of the power of God.
- God is a Trinity, but they are not three gods, but one God in three persons, and forms a triunity (Gen. 1,26 - Deut 6: 4 - Mt 3: 16,17 - Mt 28:19 - John 14: 16 - 13:13 - Hebrews 9:14)
- We believers believe we are baptized in the Spirit, forming one body ... EVERYONE needs to be full of the Spirit!
Disciples or imitators of Jesus
Paul calls in 1 Corinthians 11: 1 to follow him, as he follows Jesus Christ. In fact, it is the command of Jesus in Matthew 28:19: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. - Jesus' order is to preach the gospel to all nations on earth. - After the person has remorse and repented of sin and repented of his or her worldly way of life, to be baptized in the name of God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. - To teach the education as proclaimed by Jesus, the Old Testament with examples from daily life as described in the 4 Gospels. - In addition for us comes the teaching in the New Testament, the teaching of the apostle Paul received from the hand of the risen Christ, the letters of the apostles and the revelation of God what will happen to believers and unbelievers in the future, in the book of Revelation. - The entire Bible has to be taught to man and it is up to man to learn. It is up to the believers to bring this teaching into practice and to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ in word and ACT.
Love is greater than the ability to speak.
Talking without love adds nothing. Often it is the tongue that speaks what lives in the heart.
We have to study love, pray about and for love, and develop the fruits of love by practicing love for others.
We have to love God first and our neighbors as ourselves. Certainly in this time of Covid-19 we can show our charity in many ways. Through financial support but also doing shopping and other social assistance.
We certainly should not neglect our meetings in the church, which is the meeting place to show LOVE and our love to God. Abandonment is giving in to the powers of darkness.
Showing love to God is keeping God's commandments. Say NO to temptation and sin. Closing the eyes at seeing impurity. Teaching the gospel and the book of Revelation to your neighbors, family and colleagues. Declaring that the Great Tribulation is coming, and what it means. Proclaiming to worldly Christians that the Rapture of the Church will soon take place and one needs conversion in order not to be left behind in the terribly Great Tribulation.
Love is needed more than prophecy, knowledge and faith.
The person can have these gifts and yet be nothing - It is love that makes the difference.
If the prophecy and reproof are not accompanied by love, it is useless.
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants John what must soon take place. Blessed is he who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written therein; for the time is near (Revelation 1: 1, 3).
It is the duty of every Christian to make known the book of Revelation to the world, but it is useless without love.
It is the prophecy of Jesus' love that the Christian (Matt. 24: 40-42 the wise virgin in Matt. 25) be taken up at the Rapture of the Church. But also that the foolish virgin remains on earth and goes through the Great Tribulation.
Love is needed to announce to people THE GOOD NEWS that soon the Rapture of the Church will take place. Love is necessary for the gospel proclamation.
Love is more important than self-sacrifice, no matter what kind of sacrifice, without love there is no benefit.
If one share food and that is to get thanks and to receive honor, but if it is done without love, it is useless.
If one gives tithing, at the expense of one's own family, in order to receive honor from people, without it being done out of love, it benefits you nothing, no thanks from God.
If men burn themselves to show your faith to the people, it is useless, because God does not ask that.
Love is like Jesus: love is related to patience and kindness.
- Do not feel envy or displeasure at someone's success.
- Do not boast: or praise your own qualities.
- Do not puff up: do not inflate. Love eliminates the inner sense of self-exaltation.
- Love is being happy about the talents of others.
May God give us that kind of love.
1 Corinthians 13:4
- LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS OR ENVIOUS
Love rejoices when others are blessed.
The best way to overcome bad feelings is to admit them, and ask God to take them away.
LOVE IS NOT PROUD OR PRESUMPTUOUS
The person walking in love has no difficulty saying "sorry". However, the proud man or woman finds it very difficult to pronounce that word.
Pride strives to be seen as knowing more than others.
Paul says that knowledge without love makes people flattered.
The proud individual boasts of his or her achievements.
Love does not disparage others, does not see them as small or insignificant.
Pride is difficult to deal with because it lurks in our thoughts and in the deepest recesses of our minds.
Pride wants to be served, but humility is free to serve others.
Pride demands their rights, but humility readily abandons them when necessary.
Pride lives for itself. Humility lives for others.
Love does not mistreat, that is, it does nothing that is shameful, dishonorable, indecent.
Love shows due respect for those in authority, and proper consideration for the people over whom authority is exercised.
Love does not seek its own interests - Selfishness and love cannot reside in the spirit of the same man. Love cannot find its own happiness at the expense of others.
Love is not irritated or allowed to be provoked. He is neither provoked nor exasperated.
Does not hold a grudge - Does not take into account, does not accuse, calculate or record.
Love is not words, notice, love is action!
1 Corinthians 13:5
LOVE IS NOT RUDE
- It is rude to interrupt others when they are talking.
- It is rude to jump in line.
- It is rude to snatch something out of someone's hand, or not to say: please, thank you.
- LOVE DOES NOT SEEK ITS OWN INTERESTS
Selfishness does not work. It blocks every channel of blessing that would otherwise flow into your life.
Selfish people are always very unhappy.
Love adapts, adjusts, it does not demand its own interests.
Just try to be drilled into being totally disinterested in yourself.
The flesh is strong, but the Spirit is stronger. - LOVE DOES NOT RESIST EVIL
Love forgives and does not hold grudges. It is not touchy, some people get hurt by everything. They are people centered on what others do or fail to do for them.
This kind of squeamishness, bad temper, and resentment is what causes many divorces. Bitterness makes our life, our attitudes, words and thoughts bitter. - We resent the blessings of those we do not forgive. We even get angry with God because He is blessing them when we think they should be punished. All those with whom we relate will hurt us in some way. Really love! With the love of God.
Love is not happy with injustice of any kind.
LOVE IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE OF ALL THANKS!
May God fill our hearts with true love.
Love does not happy with fake news, false hopes, false promises.
Love does not happy with false testimonials.
Everything suffers, everything endures- It is love that casts a blanket of silence on what is unpleasant in another person.
Everything believes - Love generates trust in others.
Love never gives up - It produces perpetual hope.
Love remains firm. Love remains strong in the face of disappointment, is courageous in persecution and does not complain.
May God fill you with true love!
Love is the most complete grace: 3 gifts of the highest concept are referred to as temporary.
Love is eternal and never fails.
Love is Jesus incarnate. Jesus is eternal and never perishes.
Prophecies they are earthly and will cease. The final prophecies of Revelation will be fulfilled in the Great Tribulation.
Tongues, the different languages, they will be silent, because on the New Earth and in the New Heaven the language of God is spoken.
Knowledge will hold, for every human being on the New Earth and in Heaven will receive his/her knowledge from God.
LOVE is the most powerful thing in the world. God is love, so when we walk in His love, we abide in Him. We must not deceive ourselves into thinking that we can love God while hating other people (see John 4:20).
Love does not just bless others; He also blesses the one He loves. Focusing on being a blessing to others brings you joy.
We all need to become apprentices of love, excelling in the most important quality of all - loving.
The apostle Paul directs us that our lives are influenced by what we believe and who we associate with.
The holy life asks us to trust God completely for spiritual wisdom, rejecting the wisdom of the world.
Holiness devotes time and energy to knowing the LORD, choosing to associate with other believers rather than being unduly influenced by worldly values.
There is no spiritual dynamics in simple human abilities. God uses that which without his presence is ineffective (1 Cor 1:25, 29).
The natural mind cannot understand or receive from the Holy Spirit. Only the spiritually alive can discern spiritual wisdom (1 Cor 2:13-16).
Earthly values are transitory, embrace the eternal ones! (1 Cor 7:29-31)
Recognize that bad associations influence your conduct toward evil (1 Cor 15:33).
15 For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; 17 then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).
- So what happens at the Rapture of the Church, the first Coming of Jesus Christ in the sky? The people on earth will notice that suddenly people have disappeared. They are the Christians who are taken.
- The first event is that the Christians who have already died (verse 15 the fallen asleep) are the first to be made alive (raised from the dead) and they will be the first to meet the Lord in the air.
- After this the wise virgins, the Christians who are alive (verse 17), will meet the Lord in the clouds, and all will go to Heaven.
- While going to the clouds, the human sinful and perishable body changes into an eternal (imperishable) sinless body.
A body like the Lord Jesus Christ had after HIS resurrection from the dead.
- Because a sinful person CANNOT appear before God the Father in Heaven, that person MUST be without spot or wrinkle, that is without sin.
- The people on earth will NOT see Jesus in the clouds, that happens at His second Coming after the Great Tribulation.
- The people on earth will also NOT see the people leaving in the air, because it happens in a moment.
